Student enrollment in Tigray has plunged to critical levels, with only 40% of eligible students returning to school for the current academic year. According to Seyoum Hagos, Communications Director at the Tigray Education Bureau, fewer than one million students are enrolled, despite over 2.4 million being eligible.
“Although the overall enrollment rate reached 40%, the situation is far worse for younger students, with fewer than 20% enrolled,” Seyoum stated, highlighting the mounting education crisis in the region.
One of the major obstacles is the fact that more than 106 schools are currently being used as shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Due to this, the regional government has had to relocate some students to public universities to continue their education. Additionally, over 500 schools remain outside the control of the Tigray Education Bureau, still under the authority of Amhara and Eritrean forces.
The conflict has led to a significant loss of educators and infrastructure. “We have lost 14,000 teachers,” Seyoum said, noting that the teaching workforce has drastically declined from 46,598 in 2020 to fewer than 32,000 today. Many teachers are believed to have perished in the war or due to a lack of medical care.
The material damage is also substantial, with over 2,470 schools affected and more than 30,000 computers looted or destroyed. Economic hardship further compounds the problem, preventing many families from prioritizing education. Tesfaye Gebremedin, an educational researcher at Mekelle University, pointed out that the war has caused widespread economic scarcity, making it difficult for children to attend school.
Seyoum attributed low attendance to multiple factors: displacement, dwindling interest in education, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access in rural areas. He emphasized that many students are suffering from war-related trauma and need psychological support to regain their interest in schooling.
“Despite the war ending almost two years ago, many students have not yet returned to school,” Seyoum lamented. The Tigray region resumed academic activities only in April 2023, facing the overwhelming task of reintegrating the 2.4 million students whose education had been interrupted by the war.
